System and method for identifying an emissions control failure in an indoor smoker

Abstract

An indoor smoker includes a smoking chamber and an air handler for drawing a flow of smoke from the smoking chamber through an exhaust duct. A catalytic converter is positioned in the exhaust duct and includes a catalytic element and catalytic heater for heating the catalytic element to a temperature suitable for regulating emissions from the flow of smoke. A temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the catalytic element, and smoke generation is stopped when the catalyst temperature drops below a temperature threshold or drops at a rate that exceeds a threshold rate, which may be indicative of a failure of the catalyst heater or air handler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An indoor smoker comprising:
 a cabinet defining a discharge vent; 
 a smoking chamber positioned within the cabinet and defining a chamber outlet; 
 an exhaust duct extending between the chamber outlet and the discharge vent; 
 an air handler fluidly coupled with the exhaust duct for urging a flow of smoke from the smoking chamber, through the exhaust duct, and out of the discharge vent; 
 a catalytic converter positioned within the exhaust duct, the catalytic converter comprising a catalytic element and a catalyst heater; 
 a temperature sensor for detecting a catalyst temperature of the catalytic element; and 
 a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor, the controller being configured for:
 measuring the catalyst temperature using the temperature sensor; 
 determining that an emissions control failure has occurred based at least in part on the catalyst temperature; and 
 stopping the flow of smoke in response to determining that the emissions control failure has occurred. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the emissions control failure occurs when the catalyst temperature drops below a temperature threshold. 
     
     
       3. The indoor smoker of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature threshold is 700 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
       4. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the emissions control failure occurs when the air handler or the catalyst heater stops working properly. 
     
     
       5. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the emissions control failure occurs when a rate of change of the catalyst temperature drops faster than a threshold rate. 
     
     
       6. The indoor smoker of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold rate is 100 degrees Fahrenheit per minute. 
     
     
       7. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a smoke generator for generating the flow of smoke, wherein stopping the flow of smoke comprises disabling the smoke generator. 
 
     
     
       8. The indoor smoker of  claim 7 , wherein the smoke generator comprises an auger that urges a combustible material past a smoldering heater to generate the flow of smoke, and wherein stopping the flow of smoke comprises advancing the auger of the smoke generator to push the combustible material away from the smoldering heater. 
     
     
       9. The indoor smoker of  claim 7 , wherein stopping the flow of smoke comprises extinguishing the combustible material in a container of water. 
     
     
       10. The indoor smoker of  claim 7 , wherein the combustible material comprises wood chips, wood pellets, or wood resin. 
     
     
       11. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chamber heater in thermal communication with the smoking chamber for regulating a chamber temperature, wherein stopping the flow of smoke comprises turning off the chamber heater. 
 
     
     
       12. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 notifying a user that the emissions control failure has occurred. 
 
     
     
       13. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned downstream of the catalytic element. 
     
     
       14. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned between the catalytic element and the air handler. 
     
     
       15. The indoor smoker of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst heater is positioned upstream of the catalytic element. 
     
     
       16. A method of operating an indoor smoker, the indoor smoker comprising an exhaust duct for extracting a flow of smoke from a smoking chamber, a catalytic element positioned within the exhaust duct for lowering volatile organic compounds within the flow of smoke, and a temperature sensor for measuring a catalyst temperature of the catalytic element, the method comprising:
 measuring the catalyst temperature using the temperature sensor; 
 determining that an emissions control failure has occurred based at least in part on the catalyst temperature; and 
 stopping the flow of smoke in response to determining that the emissions control failure has occurred. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the emissions control failure occurs when the catalyst temperature drops below a temperature threshold. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the emissions control failure occurs when a rate of change of the catalyst temperature drops faster than a threshold rate. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a smoke generator for generating the flow of smoke, wherein stopping the flow of smoke comprises disabling the smoke generator. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 notifying a user that the emissions control failure has occurred.